In 1964, the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) was formed as the Committee on Legislative Review (Chapter 96, Acts of 1964). It received its present name in 1972 (Chapter 400, and Chapter 699, Acts of 1972).
The Committee reviews State agency regulations with regard to the legislative prerogative and procedural due process. The Committee also may inquire into any failure of a State government officer or employee to comply with Maryland statutory or constitutional law. Further, the Committee sits as a legislative advisory board for the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
Copies of all regulations of each State agency are received by the Committee. Unless submitted to the Committee, certain regulations or standards may be invalid (Code State Government Article, secs. 10-101 through 10-139). The Committee also is required to receive emergency energy executive orders promulgated by the Governor (Chapter 1, Acts of 2nd Special Session of 1973). This legislative authority has been updated annually.
The Committee is composed of ten senators and ten delegates who are appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker at the beginning of each regular session. Members serve for one year. The chair and vice-chair alternate each year between the two houses. Representation of each political party is approximately in the same proportion as its membership in each house (Code State Government Article, secs. 2-501 through 2-507).
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